The Buzz: Back to building for Broome Habitat

Volunteers to break ground on new house in Johnson City

The last time Broome County Habitat for Humanity finished building a new home, it was just before the flood of 2011. After that, the group shifted its focus to the cleanup and rebuilding process, rehabbing several existing houses in need of repair, Executive Director Amy Winans said.

Now, the nonprofit's volunteers are donning construction hats for a brand new project: a four-bedroom home on an empty lot on the corner of Willow Street and Floral Avenue in Johnson City. The group will break ground Wednesday on the house, which will be the 27th home built since Habitat's incorporation in 1992.

Habitat for Humanity selects families within certain income guidelines to work alongside volunteers in building the homes. When construction is complete, the nonprofit sells the house to the family with a no-interest mortgage loan. The mortgage payments that families make come back to Habitat for Humanity, helping the group to start work on the next project, Winas said.

Construction on this house is expected to take from nine months to a year, Winas said. Want to get involved? It doesn't matter if your carpentry skills are a little rusty ... or nonexistent.

In addition to general construction assistance, Habitat needs help with clerical duties, fundraising activities and more. Visit broomehabitat.org to read safety information, fill out an application and waiver, and then get in touch with the agency to set up a time to help.